Earlier this fall Northwestern Travel Management presented
an overview of corporate online booking tools. The forum was
presented at the newly renovated Milwaukee Depot in downtown
Minneapolis. Worldspan Trip Manager, e-Travel and GetThere.com
gave live demonstrations.
Forum sponsors were National Car and the Marriott Courtyard.
Full Agenda of Talk and Tour
Participants needed a full day to take it all in. The forum
morning session was interspersed with a tour of the new Depot
and Marriott Hotel.
Angela Rogers, Manager of the Northwestern Travel Management
Online Booking Service Center, presented statistics to help
attendees measure their level of online booking participation.
The NTM Online Booking Service Center works primarily with
Worldspan Trip Manager.
Four NTM customers who have implemented corporate online
booking products explained the benefits and challenges they've
experienced with online products.
Shelley Milless,
ROI Systems and Ralph Roe, Wolters Kluwer-CCH Incorporated
Surveys Come Back Thumbs Up
Participant surveys came back very positive on the presentations
and agenda for the online booking presentations.
"Most valuable was the comparison
between the online booking vendors. And the panel was helpful."
Lisa Ratke, Norstan.
"Personal networking is valuable as
well as learning that other companies have similar challenges."
Sally Orcholski, ABS Global.
"It was helpful understanding NTM's side of the business,
seeing the tools they use. I also learned more about Worldspan."
Kathy Bird Patterson Dental
"I learned from hearing and sharing
comments with other users. Great overview of public Internet
sites, the pros and cons etc." Peg Olson, NRG.
Marriott and Depot Dazzle!
Hotel features '40's railroad theme
The new Marriott hotel at the Milwaukee Depot was a forum
sponsor and had a lot to show. In addition to its location
adjacent to the newly renovated depot, the hotel lobby features
period artwork and knick-knacks from the glory days of railroad
travel.
Water and Frozen Water are Big Attractions
The Marriott shares the limelight with two depot attractions:
an Olympic-sized indoor skating rink and an indoor water park;
both are part of the former Minneapolis Depot complex.
A stylish traveler
from the 40's frozen in time in the Marriott lobby
Watch for Next Issue on December 4th Security Forum
A timely travel forum on travel security was held December
4th. Topics included:
Defining a "Crisis"
Airlines and Airport Security
Hotel Security
Corporate Preparations for the Unknown
Continental, Millennium Hotels and NTM were among the forum
sponsors and presenters. A panel discussion of NTM clients shared
strategies for crisis planning and management. Watch for a NTM
Travel Manager Special Edition in January 2002, with highlights
and a photo gallery.
Online Forum Gallery
Click on photos below to go to Online Forum Gallery.
